If you don't like the appearance of a shape or text box when you add it to your file, you can format the shape or text box, and then designate it as the new default format for that open file. After that, any new shapes or text boxes will use that formatting.

But remember, these steps only set defaults for the spreadsheet, slide presentation, email message, or document that you have open. To set defaults for all files you can create a template

Select the shape, right-click the border, and then click Set as Default Shape.

Select the text box, right-click the border, and then click Set as Default Text Box.

Note: If you don’t see the Set as Default Shape or Set as Default Text Box options, make sure that you first selected the shape or text box and then right-clicked the shape border or text box border, not inside the shape or text box.

Select the shape or text box, right-click the border, and then click Set AutoShape Defaults.

When you next insert a shape or text box, it appears with the default formatting that you’ve set.

Notes:

Separate defaults cannot be set for shapes and text boxes. So if you change the defaults for a shape, those same defaults are also applied to any text box in the email message.

If you don’t see the Set AutoShape Defaults option, make sure that you first selected the shape or text box and then right-clicked the shape border or text box border, not inside the shape or text box.

Select the shape, right-click the border, and then click Set as Default Shape.

Select the text box, right-click the border, and then click Set as Default Text Box.

Tip: If you always want these new defaults available when you create a new presentation, change the default theme that is used for new presentations.

Note: If you don’t see the Set as Default Shape or Set as Default Text Box options, make sure that you first selected the shape or text box and then right-clicked the shape border or text box border, not inside the shape or text box.

Select the shape or text box, right-click the border, and then click Set AutoShape Defaults.

When you next insert a shape, it appears with the default formatting that you’ve set. To insert a text box with the default formatting, on the Insert tab, in the Text group, click Text Box, and then click Draw Text Box. If you select a text box from the Built-In section, it won’t appear with the default formatting that you’ve set.

Notes:

Separate defaults cannot be set for shapes and text boxes. So if you change the defaults for a shape, those same defaults are also applied to any text box in the document.

If you don’t see the Set AutoShape Defaults option, make sure that you first selected the shape or text box and then right-clicked the shape border or text box border, not inside the shape or text box.